John Gear

About 80% of my practice is helping wronged consumers recover from businesses that have cheated them. The rest is a mix of end-of-life and estate planning for elders, wage and hour claims for employees, and advising or serving nonprofits as outside counsel or in providing nonprofit boards with training to avoid problems. I don't stray outside those basic areas much -- for example, I don't take personal injury cases, car crashes, or any family or criminal law cases. But if the problem is otherwise within Oregon civil law, I'm happy to be consulted and to help out or provide referrals. At this point in my practice, the bulk of my cases come from referrals, which I greatly value. As an engineer before becoming an attorney, I learned to use a frugal problem-solving approach. In my practice, that means emphasis on solving the client's problem first, rather than defaulting to a given legal approach. If I can solve a client's issue with a letter instead of a lawsuit, I'm happy to do that.

Western Michigan University Cooley Law School

J.D. (2004) | Law

2001 - 2003

Awards as top student in: Ethics/Professional Responsibility; Remedies; Products Liability; Election Law; State Admin Law; Federal Admin Law; Trial Workshop; Law Practice; Law Office Management.

Honors: Graduated magna cum laude, ranked 2nd of 120 in class. Earned 10 top student awards.

Activities: Certificate in administrative law; national trial team competition.

Washington State University - Tri-Cities campus

M.S. | Engineering Management

1990 - 1993

University of Wisconsin - Madison

B.S. | Nuclear Engineering

1980 - 1984

Honors: Distinguished Scholars Program

Managing Attorney

John Gear Law Office

2010 - Current

Values based Oregon law practice serving Consumers, Elders, Employees and Nonprofits

Regulatory Affairs Attorney

Michigan Public Service Commission

2006 - 2007

Research Attorney

Michigan Court of Appeals

2004 - 2006

Principal

Catalyst Consulting Services

1994 - 2001

Principal Engineer

Westinghouse Hanford Company

1989 - 1994

Submarine Officer, USS Omaha (SSN-692)

US Navy

1987 - 1989

Helping Servicemembers on Active Duty and Veterans as Civil Litigants, Consumers, and Taxpayers

Oregon State Bar

December 1, 2017

Warranties

Oregon State Bar

January, 2013

Sending Clear Signals in Written Directions: How to write policies, procedures and task outlines

Writing Services

1996

Hard Talks: Overcoming self-defeating client attitudes and behavior in consumer protection cases, Protecting Older Consumers, Oregon State Bar, Tigard

October 26, 2018

Oregon State Bar Consumer Law Section

Continuing legal education presentation to Oregon attorneys for how to help older consumers who have been ripped off.

Lawyer of the Year

Marion-Polk Volunteer Lawyers Program

2009

Awarded for work through the Marion-Polk Legal Aid Service's "ELVIS" (Elder Law Volunteers in Service) clinic, where I remain as an active volunteer.

Founder, Nonprofit Organizations Law Section of Oregon State Bar

Founder & Executive Committee Member

2011 - Current

National Association of Consumer Advocates

member

2011 - Current

Marion County Bar Association

member

2010 - Current

Oregon Trial Lawyers Association

Member

2010 - Current

Oregon State Bar Elder Law Section

member

2010 - Current

Michigan

2004-2007

Oregon

Since 2007

• Contingent Fees
  I do not generally provide free consultations; however, if I accept your case on contingency, the consultation fee is used as a deposit toward case costs retainer. Most consults are $280 (1 hour).

• Lemon Law
• Public Benefits